Big Hit Entertainment to run global audition program to develop next-gen BTS

SEOUL -- Big Hit Entertainment, the home of popular K-pop band BTS, will run a global audition program in six cities in the United States, Canada and Hong Kong to develop a new next-generation K-pop star.

Big Hit said in a statement on Wednesday that its artist development team will visit Vancouver, Toronto, Los Angeles, Atlanta, New York and Hong Kong starting on October 6 to search for rookie artists.

Any male born in 1998 or later are eligible for the audition program. The agency has categorized the audition into five sections -- vocal, rap, dance, acting and model.

Big Hit Entertainment was established in 2005 by Bang Shi-hyuk, a famous songwriter-producer who led many K-pop artists such as BTS, Seo In-kuk, 2AM and Baek Ji-young. BTS is currently the only actual band under Big Hit's wings.